The National tribune., 1887-12-15
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
EHr rArHrp OF THE HOUSE.

Credit Mobilier investigation, Mr. Kelley, who
was then one of the suspected congressman,
went before the committee and told such
frank story that he went back to his seat Just
as Mr.. Bingham OF Ohio, did cleared by the
Committee OF Investigation OF all blame. 4
was q telegraphic correspondent then, and i
listened iuteutly 10 Mn. kcleys testimony and
made a long record of his evidence. He said
] cannot give his exact language now:
bought stock from Mr. Ames tOakes Amesl be-
cause ] thought il a good investment, and am
sorry that ] didn't buy more.
"a quarter of a century ago ] had the honor
60 advocate on the floor up stairs the commit
Zee was sitting IN room IN the old building,
lust beneath the Capitol Library the opening
OF route across the country 10 the Pacific, aud
when the time came that the scheme was near
ing perfection, deemed IL my duty 10 prove
my belief by investing j am sorry that j
didn't have more money TO put In 1t at that
time"
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE readers win re-
member that Mr.. Kelley aud Mr.. Bingham
were the only Congressman on Oakos Amess
list that the committee did not blame, and 1t
was because both admitted and defended their
investment. The Others he'd, under oath, about
their connection with the matter, and Ames and
Charles Brooks and CollaN soon went TO their
graves more for shame than from age or dis
ease. Oh. the pity of il thata Vice President
of the United States should be solemnly re-
ported by a committee as a liar and perjurer.
j remember that day well, that the report was
read out IN the House. Mr.. Kelley and Mr..
Bingham were almost the only two on the
floor that looked as though they felt safe, and
when the reading progressed ID was pitiful 10
watch MT. Brooks. His seat was about the
middle Of the center aisle, on the Democratic
side, and thus a conspicuous object watched
hs face grow ashy white as he heard that
awful verdict Of his colleagues read out and
4
live through the ordeal. He Mr.. Broohsl was
never a well man from that hour, and never
again occupied his seat the floor. Mr..
Ames soon went TO his last home, and Mr.. Col
fax's political funeral preceded his death only
little-time.
A REMINIsCENCE
This week Capt. S. s. Blacl1lOrd, an old sol
der and prominent man among the Sons Of
.lonadab OF Washington, went to the Office OF
the District Commissioners to protest against
license being granted 10 certain saloon
keeper. He was very much excited, and be-
fore he could speak dropped dead on the loor
Of the Office. After his discharge from the army
Blaekford received an appointment as a mem
ber of the Capitol police and on the day OF Lin
coins second Inauguration formed one Of the
line that guarded the procession, consisting Of
the President, oe-Prcsident, Senators and
Representatives, Judges of the Supreme Court
and high civil, military and naval officers, as
il passed from the Senate Chamber TO the plat
form the East front of the Capitol, where
Lincoln was TO take the oath of Office and read
his inaugural address.
The line of the police was a double one, and
solid, aud as those were critical days and there
had been rnmors of attempts 10 attack the
President the strictest orders had been issued
that no one should be allowed TO pass out of the
East door Of the r0tunda except those right
fully IN the procession. After portion of the
procession had passed out a man who behaved
i'm q very excited manner broke through the
line OF police near the door and rushed Tor the
platform. Mr. BlacklOrd spang from his place
and seized the man and, in spite of his desper-
ate struggles to escape aud his declaration that
he had right TO 60 upon the platform, held
him until the doors were closed. Then others
came TO bis assistance and the man was put out
side the lines. The remainder of the process
sion then passed out and the Inauguration took
place without interruption.
Very little was thought Of the incident until
after the assassination Of Lincoln, when the
descriptions of John Wilkes Booth that were
published led Mr. Blackford to suspect that the
man whom he had stopped on Inauguration
day was no other than Booth himself Further
inquiry proved that Booth had been seen in the
rotunda on that Gay, and the descriptions given
by thosa who witnessed Mr. Blacklords seizure
OF him completed the Identification.
Subsequent disclosures led to the belief that
u WAS Booths intention 10 shoot President
Lincoln while taking the oath of Office or de-
hvering his inaugural. and that he was only
frustrated by the bravery and promptness 20
gct OF Mr.. Blaclford.
AN EX- SECRETARY.
On the FOurteenth-street car the other day
met one OF the handsOmest men that ever graced
official life in this country, Hon. Vim. Window,
of Minnesota, who was so long a time a Senator
from the great grain-growiug State; was the first
choice OF the lamented Garfield for his Secretary
Of the Treasury, aud was the man who solved
at once the problem OF how 70 pay of our bonds
lie told me one evening when ] asked him how
u came about " tried for years 10 legislate and
could not elect my designs, but i think i cut
the knot here and am glad the country ap-
proves H." The country was ast0nished at his
action, but as soon as the fact that millions of
dollars year were saved by using the useless
surplus that way, a grand chorus Of approval
went up that must have charmed Mr.. Window.
REGULAR ARMY FURIoUGHs.
] doubt much If soldiers in any army but
Ours arc well treated in these days, or SO
Wei paid ] have before me as write this. one
Oi Mai. -Cien. Ierry's Special Orders, and Of the
BX paragraphs printed there, five are for cx-
tended iuriOughs for enlisted men, and four Of
tie i've are granted permission TO go abroad
Corporal blacksmith and y private have
each Six months permission TO 20 abroad and
Sergeant is granted three months. Does any
army other than ours pay so much per month
10 the men in addition 10 other allowances
How would our troopers like TO be allOwanced
10 cents per diem for food, as the French
troops aref i fancy there would be an i'm
mense kick If our men were thus alloWanced.
OUR LAwMAKERs.
The new Member from the Sixth Massachu-
setts Dstrict-HOn. Henry Cabot Lodge who
succeeds Mr Lowering, is very well known IN
has native city and State, not only as an excel
lent historical writer and thoroughly pluckv
politician, but also as the son Of Mrs John u.
Lodge ace Anna Cabot) whose liberal gifts 10
aii the Boston charities, as well as her unceas-
ing private beneEolences, have made her name
one Of tie best known in Boston Mr.. Lodge
has brought his family 10 Washington, aud las
taken house on Nineteenth street.
The present Congress has no negro Mem ber
Capt. Small, Of South Carolina, aud Mai. James
Oltara, oi North Carolina who were members
OF the 1sth Congress, having been defeated foI
reelection.
Auburn tresses get their innings in this
House, there being no less than 27 Members
tie color Of whose hair runs from a pro
nouneed strawberry blonde TO a highly in.
famed red.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE on PENSIONS.
The Senate appointed its committees last
Monday That Oh Pensions consists of Sena-
tor DAVIS, Blair, Sawyer, Paddock, Quay VIII.
son. OF Maryland Turpie aud BlOdgett The
new members Of the committee are Davis Pad.
dock, Quay, Turpie aud BiOdgett, who take tbs
places Of Mitchell Pa. Van Wyck, Aldrich